Toms River Loses It’s Own ‘Wonder Woman’

It’s not easy to sum up the legacy of Lucy Greene who spent nearly four decades with what was then known as the Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce and was president for the last twenty years.

I had the pleasure to serve as Chairman of the Chamber towards the end of her tenure and was amazed by her knowledge of so many issues that impacted the business climate in and around Ocean County. Lucy was a dynamo and on more than one occasion I told someone that if you wanted something done in Toms River she was the person you should call first. She knew everyone and everyone knew her.

I remember well the day Dominick Servodio asked me to become a member of the Board of Directors as he was about to take over as chairman. What that meant more than anything was in a few years I would be the chairman and I admitted to being a bit overwhelmed.

Dominick said that I should not be worried because Lucy was the heart, soul, blood and guts of the organization and would make sure my ride was smooth and not bumpy. Of course by the time I took over in 2008 I had already worked with her for a few years and was blown away by her energy and passion, even towards the end of her long tenure.

Simply put Lucy cared about people, her family, her church, her town and yes for a large part of her life the Chamber of Commerce. She also gave her time and energy to Friends of Navy Lakehurst, the Toms River Police Foundation, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and many other civic organizations and was very much a part of the effort to change the name of Dover Township to Toms River.

Lucy Greene died over the weekend at the age of 82, leaving behind her two sons, their wives and two grandchildren. Hopefully she also leaves knowing that no one person did more than she on behalf of so many. I will join hundreds to say goodbye to a true “Wonder Woman” on Thursday at the Carmona Bolen Home for Funerals in Toms River.

Rest well Lucy, you’ve earned it. Job well done.

Lucy presented me with this proclamation at the end of my term as Chairman.

Lucy Greene presented me with this proclamation at the end of my term as Chairman of he Toms River Chamber of Commerce (Kevin Williams, Townsquare Media NJ)